Corps Releases New Risk Maps for the New Orleans Area

August 22, 2007 -- Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Donald E. Powell and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Director of Civil Works Maj. General Don T. Riley today detailed the improved hurricane protection that will be provided to New Orleans area residents once the city's levees are built to the 100-year level. In addition, Powell announced $6.3 billion of further funding needed for improved protection for the New Orleans area and the Administration's plan to secure necessary funds to complete the work by 2011.

Powell also announced the Administration will work with Congress to fund a $1.3 billion network of interior drainage projects to ensure the New Orleans area has a more complete hurricane protection system. The 100-year protection, in addition to the drainage component, ensures the greater New Orleans area has a hurricane and flood protection system that far exceeds what existed before Hurricane Katrina.

As part of ongoing efforts, Corps officials also released information compiled by the Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce (IPET), an independent team of more than 150 international and national experts from more than 50 different government organizations, universities, and private industry, that shows maps of how this planned hurricane protection will reduce the risk of flooding once the construction is complete in 2011.

The Corps currently has sufficient funding to continue scheduled repairs and improvements until Fiscal Year 2009. The request to Congress to provide funding to complete 100-year protection and additional drainage will be made by the Administration as part of the FY 2009 budget process since the need for this additional funding will not arise until the October 2008 timeframe.